libtitvb Otago Eigportmettf of Bustirg Notwrol Sureau ufinotorigation aollingfon, D. C. CONFIDENTIAL IN NELPI.Y, PLEASE RIVEN TO BY SPECIAL MESSENGER num. 100-344488 Date: May 21, 1948 / To: Director Central Intelligence Agency 2430 E Street N. W. Washington, I). C. Attention: Mr. Alan R. McCracken Ir From: John Edgar Hoover.- Director, Federal Bureau of investigation . Subject: NIS.0IEN1/11X4. with aliases LI-chola81414,4L49-01JJAMalagaj..PaCaailialaxa INTERNAL- sicuRrn - R - RUMANIAN Reference is made to your memorandum dated May 11, 1948, in which you state that Nicolae Malaxa, a Rumamianindustrialist, is in the United States and has certain financial and business relationships with individuals who might be contacted imconnectionwith the program out- lined in your memorandum number-S=.8815. This is to advise you that this Bureau at the present time as a pending investigation concerning the activities of Malaxa. It ta requested that your Agency not interviewMalaxa in connection with your program relating to emigre groups untF.1 the completion of this i Bureaus pending investigation. At the completion of this investigation you will be promptly notified and you will be furnished with the results of this investigation. Malaxa ls activities are now being considered by I the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice in connection with a‘ the provisions of the Foreign Agents Registration Ac. There are set out hereinafter pertinent background information and information relating to MaLaxa ls activities: Background On January 19, 1948, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police furnished this Bureau information reflecting that Nicola:, Malaxa, the former Rumanian steel industrialist, was born in Barlad, Rumania, December 10, 1884. He arrived at the port of Nee York during September, 1946, and was applying i for a permanent admission into Canada. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police 3 have stated that Malaxa is well known to Russians who maybe exploiting 1 -= iLEJCLOSURE.1 REGISTRY COPY D ECLASSIFIED AND RELEASED BY CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY SOURCES METHODS EXEMPT I ON3B2BRCOORDINATMWITH Ift NAZI WAR CR IM ESDISCLOSURE ACT DATE 2004 2006 him as a suitable instrument to initiate trade agreements with the British and Americans. Entrance into the United States and Purpose During February of 1948, the New York Field Division of the-FBI '-------''. reviewed the records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 70 Columbus Avenue, New York, New York, and it was determined that Immigration and Naturalization Service file No. 0300/174060 indicates that Nicolae Maiaxa entered the United States at the port of New York on September 29, 1946, via the TR plane 86511, Mans feat No. 2-130-15436, and that Ma/axa was issued a nonimmigrant visa NO. 670 at Paris, France, August 7, 1946, under Section 3/2B; he has been receiving extensions periodically on this visa to August 4, 1948. Malaxa carries Rumanian passport No. 02326, issued April 15, 1946, at Bucharest, Rumania, by the Minister of the In- 1 terior, which also has been extended to April 15, 1949. The records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service reflect that originally Malaxa requested entry into the United States for five months and overstayed his entry visa before applying for extension. Through his attorneys, Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin and Krim, 1501 Broadway, New York, New York, Malaxa explained his delinquency by stating that it arose through his limited knowledge of the English language and the belief that the visa was valid for twelve months. Through liaison channels with the State Department on May 2, 1946, the FBI received a copy of an incoming State Department telegram from the American diplomatic representative in Bucharest, Rumania, to the Secretary of State, dated April 19, 1946. This incoming State Department telegram reflected that the American Service Officer, Berry, stated that plans of the Rumanian Government to send an official commission to the United States had been dropped. However, a small unofficial delegation from the American Chamber of commerce in Rumania desired to visit the United States. The chairman of this delegation was to be MaAkusnit, and this delegation de- sired to renew old connections and to secure information on further trade relations. Foreign Service Officer Berry told Max Ausnit that he did not think American capital would be interested in Rumania until the political conditions were settled, and it was indicated byMelaxa that this dele- gation had no plans for investments. Foreign Service Officer Berry indi- cated that aside from Ausnit, the delegation would be made up of Alonica Sales, Jacques Bochori, Nicolas Malaxe, and three technical experts, namely, Dan Dragomereadm, Lahar Stoicescu, and Marcel Petreau. These technical experts were to be designated by the Rumanian Government. Berry indicated that the three technicians, since they were designated by a Communist Govern- ment, were probably favorable to it. It was further indicated that Malaxa - 2 - was working close to the present Rumanian Government, and that if American business expected to make any move in Rumania, they could be sure that Valera would have a part in it. Berry stated that after careful consideration he had decided to approve the delegation, who would secure visas in Paris. On January 27, 1948, the Washington Field Division of the FBI determined that the Department of State records failed to indicate that Nicolae Matera had ever applied for, or was refused, a visa for permanent residence in the United States. Political Ramifications of Malaxa in Rumania During Bomber of 1947 the Washington Field Division of the FBI made inquiries of the Department of State to determine the status of Valera in the United States. it that time the files of the Visa Section of the State Department were reviewed and it was indicated that Nalaxa was not in the United States in a diplomatic capacity. However, it IMA determined that Mr. James Donovan, Division of Foreign Activity Correlation, State Department, was in a position to make available the State Department files relating to Malaria. These files in the State Department reflected that Male= was a mere Rumanian railway employee in 1916 and was a railroad truck repairman after Wad War I. There was no indication as to Malaxa S s activities from World War I until 1931, at which time it was noted that Maleravms appointed a member of the Board of the Rumanian Railway-Supply (The Resita). The pertinent comments concerning Valera s association with this railway supply company indicated that Male= had grown wealthy through his association with Max Ausnit, who was at that time Rumanias leading industrialst. It was further indicated that Malara became an ardent follower of the tien King Carol of Rumania, and that he joined King Carols Camarilla PuiuV mt eac,and that Valera, through his connection with Duatreibui, was successful in discrediting one1501e419r. the Skoda Armament manufacturing representative of spmania. These State Department records further revealed thit Lela= had gained complete control of the armament manufacturing field in Rumania by 1936. In a report submitted to the State Department from the American :Minister to Rumania, Frank l in Mott Gunther, it was noted that mr. Gunther , was of the opinion that Vela= had been successful in If framine Max Ausnit, and that the latter was convicted and imprisoned for six years. On March 14, 1940, Ansnit was deprived of his civil rights in Rumania for a period of four years and received a fine in the amount of 250 million lei, which amount had been paid by as damages to the Rumanian Government. The -.3- Gunther report pointed out that Ausnit had formed a British-American corporation in London in 1939, and that Ausnit had endeavored to counter- balance the German-Rumanian Commercial Treaty. It was on the basis of the formation of the corporation and the British-American collaboration that Amsnit was convicted, according to the report. The files of the State Department contained a report on economic developments for the State Department, dated Jay 15, 1946, which portrays information indicating that if Rumania failed to negotiate the desired arrangements which Melton: had been working on with the United States Govern- mmt, Rumania would feel that the United States had abandoned the idea of helping Rumania, and that Rumania would inevitably make peace terms with the U.S.S.R. A second documentarynmmorandumwas reviewed by the Washington Field Division of the FBI in the State Department files which had been prepared by the Division of Economic and Security Control, and it was noted that the American Consul General at Istanbul, Turkey, made a report which, in part, is as follows: •He, (Malaxa) is considered entirely un- scrupulous turning with the wind and like a cat has developed to a high art the knack of landing on his feet. Be is considered to be essentially a dangerous type of man from the standpoint of being an opponent of a truly democratic regime in the country (Rumania)." The State Department files also reflect that Malaxa was the owner of three factories in Bucharest which were .-Ising shells and tanks and were, as late as August, 1941, working for . the benefit of the Germane. It was further noted that Malaxa was reported to be the owner of a small shell factory near Bran, Rumania, and, also, an airplane factory near Broicrv, A memorandum that was prepared in the State Department on October 23, 1946, reflected that Malaxa and Ausnit (presumably Max Aasnit) had arrived in the United States as members of the American-Rumanian Chamber of Commerce. It was indicated that their primary interest in the United States was in the developing of commercial relations between the two countries, namely, the United States and Rumania. Malaxas Association with the Rumanian Mission in the United States Special Agents of the Washinn Field Division of the FBI interviewed on October 31, 1947, Pamfi iposanu, the former Counselor of the Rumanian Legation in Washington, U.